I reluctantly updated a lot of the technology that runs Monevator this week. And of course things broke.
For instance, pagination and numbering has come unstuck on the longer comment threads. For now we’re either showing up to 200 comments at once on (nearly all posts) or else the most recent remainder (the broker comparison table [1], and a couple of old Brexit ding-dongs).
If you spot any other bugs please do let us know.
Also, as detailed below I’m going to experiment with keeping these Weekend Reading comments Covid-free.
We’ve had a great discussion here over the past few months for those who’ve wanted it. But more than a few readers feel it’s now crowding out the investing chit-chat, which is the primary reason anyone comes to Monevator.
Ideally us diehards will continue debating, but only on this older thread [2] please.
Be warned: Given the state of travel with the pandemic and the economy I’ll likely do a dedicated virus post again at some point over the next few weeks. It’s just too important to our finances to leave off this site entirely.
But for now I’m going to have to delete Covid-related comments on this post. Apologies in advance. Please comment (even if about this new comment policy) on the other thread [2] please.
Have a great weekend!
From Monevator
The facts of investing life – Monevator [3]
Watch out for the capital gains tax turnover trap – Monevator [4]
From the archive-ator: There are many ways to be an investor – Monevator [5]
News
Note: Some links are Google search results – in PC/desktop view you can click to read the piece without being a paid subscriber. Try privacy/incognito mode to avoid cookies. Consider subscribing if you read them a lot!1 [6]
UK house prices jump, but a slowdown is likely says Nationwide – Guardian [7]
Online pensions dashboard delayed until 2023 [Search result] – FT [8]
Electrified cars just outsold diesel in Europe for the first time – ThisIsMoney [9]
Morgan Housel’s personal finance book [10] has been optioned for a movie – Deadline [11]
Resetting online commerce – Benedict Evans [12]
Products and services
Payment holidays are ending in the UK, but there are options – Guardian [13]
Buyers snapping up ‘Instagram mortgages’ from Generation Home; can be backed by friends and family – ThisIsMoney [14]
What if banks like HSBC started charging for current accounts? – Which [15]
Sign-up to Freetrade via my link and we can both get a free share worth between £3 and £200 – Freetrade [16]
Starling and Monzo are winning more current account switchers [But total numbers switching are still pitiful] – ThisIsMoney [17]
Bitcoin has surged 87% year-on-year to highest price since 2017 – ThisIsMoney [18]
Edwardian homes for sale – Guardian [19]
Comment and opinion
Larry Swedroe: The importance of diversification in the long run – Advisor Perspectives [20]
Want to get cash for your old gold? Tread carefully – The Evidence-based Investor [21]
The sky is(n’t) falling – Retirement Field Guide [22]
The virtues of a minimalist portfolio – Morningstar [23]
Look under the hood to discover what’s really in your index fund – Humble Dollar [24]
Bye-bye BTL. Enter ‘house hacking’ – Mr Money Mustache [25]
This retirement blogger has a different definition of ‘simplicity’ to me – Rivers Hedge [26]
What sharks can teach us about survivorship bias – Farnham Street [27]
Radical uncertainty: why modern finance keeps failing – CFA Institute [28]
The momentum factor may be weaker we thought [Research] – SSRN [29] [h/t AR [30]]
Naughty corner: Active antics
The trouble with value investing, and what to do about it – Musings on Markets [31]
Unlikely Covid-19 winners in the stock market – Institutional Investor [32]
David Einhorn warns the market is perilously overvalued… – ValueWalk [33]
…but there’s a fine line between persistence and insanity in investing – AWOCS [34]
What is the attraction of star fund managers, anyway? – Behavioural Investment [35]
Martin Currie Global Portfolio: A little-known gem? – IT Investor [36]
Covid and politics
Following reader feedback [37], we’re asking for all Covid thoughts to please go on this older thread [2], so today’s comments are free for investing and money discussion. Any comments on Covid here will probably be deleted. Thanks!
Never say never with Covid-19, but we’re still waiting for that predicted second death surge in Sweden – FT [38]
UK PM considering ‘national lockdown next week’ – BBC [39] and more BBC [40]
How the coronavirus spreads through the air [Great visualizations] – El Pais [41]
A Swedish care home doctor’s perspective – Sebastian Rushworth [42]
Scientists ‘warn’ of new coronavirus variant spreading across Europe [Search result] – FT [43]
After three months of lockdown, Melbourne has a bleak lesson for the world – Bloomberg [44]
We must keep our heads and accept that Covid is here for the long-term [Search result] – FT [45]
Record 200 days without a local case makes Taiwan world’s envy – Bloomberg via MSN [46]
It may be time to reset expectations as to when we’ll get a vaccine – STAT [47]
US states by infection rate and political affiliation [Data visualisation] – Flourish [48]
The pandemic could end waiting in line – The Atlantic [49]
A UK/EU Brexit deal may be back on [Video] – TLDR [50]
Could Trump win on Tuesday despite the polls? – Vox [51]
Marina Hyde: Behold Trump’s pre-election secret weapon: Nigel Farage, ‘king of Europe’ – Guardian [52]
Kindle book bargains
Note: The following deals expire at midnight Saturday 31 October.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill – £1.99 on Kindle [53]
How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen – £0.99 on Kindle [54]
Reinvention: How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life by Brian Tracy – £0.99 on Kindle [55]
Just Fuck*ng Do It: Stop Playing Small. Transform Your Life by Noor Hibbert – £0.99 on Kindle [56]
Off our beat
How the awful stuff won – NY Books [57]
Migration experience – Indeedably [58]
Why it’s getting harder to mine gold – BBC [59]
And finally…
“The sucker has always tried to get something for nothing, and the appeal in all booms is always frankly to the gambling instinct aroused by cupidity and spurred by a pervasive prosperity. People who look for easy money invariably pay for the privilege of proving conclusively that it cannot be found on this sordid earth.”
Jesse Livermore, Reminiscences of a Stock Operator [60]
Like these links? Subscribe [61] to get them every Friday!
- Note some articles can only be accessed through the search results if you’re using PC/desktop view (from mobile/tablet view they bring up the firewall/subscription page). To circumvent, switch your mobile browser to use the desktop view. On Chrome for Android: press the menu button followed by “Request Desktop Site”. [↩ [66]]